New Composites in Ships web group set up
The Materials KTN has recently started a new Composites in Ships web group to stimulate discussion, provide information updates and bring together people with a common interest in the subject.
There is great potential to use more composite materials in ships. We are seeing a sharp increase in the use of composites in commercial aircraft, road vehicles and trains because of the weight reductions that can be achieved, and resultant fuel reduction.
The leisure marine sector has been using FRP composites for over 50 years. Rising bunker prices mean that reduced fuel use is becoming more critical in ships, and the benefits to ship stability by reducing topside weight are very significant. Alternatively, reduced structural weight can allow for higher payload/more cabins in a cruise ship, or can increase top speed.
Polymer composite materials also have excellent fatigue properties and do not corrode as steel does. Thus through life maintenance costs can be significantly reduced where steel is replaced with composite material. They also lend themselves to integrated functionality, whether for embedded services, reducing radar signature or integrating sensors, photovoltaics, antennae, etc. Composites are increasingly being used in valves and pipework, and can potentially replace steel in numerous ancillary parts, reducing weight and corrosion.
A major obstacle to the structural use of composites in ships is their combustibility. SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations require structural materials in ships to be non-combustible, unless "equivalence" can be demonstrated through a complex process. However, the excellent thermal insulating properties of composites could in many situations reduce the spread of fire. Indeed composites are used to protect steel structures from fire in some offshore installations. Thus suggestions have been made to IMO committees as to how to allow for the use of composites with appropriate assessment.
The Materials KTN has created this sub-group to provide a forum for and bring together those interested in composites in ships. The web-page includes links to other relevant websites and to numerous informative reports and resources. Articles will be posted regularly - contributions from members are invited.
For more information go to https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/composites-in-ships and to join, click "Join this group" in the banner.
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